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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bound — certain
  6. pit — in a race
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. board — a committee
  13. branch — a division
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. pit — a hole
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bound — tied together
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. board — to get on
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. stick — a piece of wood

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com